Julian Wright, Hamady Ndiaye Sign To Play In NBA D-League

The NBA Development League season has roughly 15 games left before the playoffs begin, but some quality players still plan to filter in following the NBA All-Star break. It makes sense, too, as players like Mike James and Jamaal Tinsley have shown it doesn't take long for a call-up once NBA talent is shown on the court.

Sources told Ridiculous Upside that Julian Wright, a 2007 lottery pick and former member of the Kansas Jayhawks, signed a D-League contract on Thursday along with former Washington Wizards draft pick Hamady Ndiaye. Both players will find out their new team on Monday upon clearing waivers.

It's an interesting career move for Wright, but probably a necessary one if he wants to get back to the NBA and prove he was once worth the 13th overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets. The last time Wright was in the news was for not wanting to play while he was with the Toronto Raptors last season, but should thrive in the D-League as ESPN's John Hollinger notes on his player page that "plays best in ragged, open-court games."

As far as Ndiaye is concerned, he's no stranger to the D-League. The second-year pro out of Rutgers has great length as a solid 7-footer, but he'll need to learn how to do more than block shots if he wants to gain a foothold in the NBA. In 21 career D-League games while on assignment from the Washington Wizards, the jovial big man has averaged 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while getting less than 20 minutes per contest.

The top five teams in the waiver order are the Springfield Armor, Maine Red Claws, Austin Toros, Los Angeles D-Fenders and Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

And no, Allen Iverson hasn't signed a D-League contract as of yet ... maybe he's waiting for the D-Fenders to get to the top of the pool.